Is Disney sexing up ‘Brave’ heroine Merida for merchandise line?

“Frozen” features the voices of Santino Fontana as Hans (left) and Kristen Bell as Anna. This is the next big one from Walt Disney Animation Studios.
(Disney)

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Anna looks worried in the movie “Frozen.”
(Disney)

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Kristoff and Anna share a moment in the movie “Frozen.”
(Disney)

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Merida was crowned by her mother, Queen Elinor, during the “Brave” star’s welcoming ceremony at Magic Kingdom on May 11, 2013
(Gregg Newton, Walt Disney Co.)

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Merida, the heroine of Disney-Pixar film “Brave,” arrives by horseback to her welcoming ceremony at Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom on May 11, 2013. She was followed by kilt-clad dancers and a Scottish band.
(Gregg Newton, Walt Disney Co.)

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Throngs of theme-park guests maneuvered to see all 11 Disney Princesses on stage during Merida’s welcoming ceremony at Magic Kingdom on May 11, 2013. Also on stage were Olympic gymastics champion Gabby Douglas and her mom, Natalie Hawkins, who both spoke during the ceremony.
(Todd Anderson, Walt Disney Co.)

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The 11 Disney Princesses after the welcoming ceremony for Merida. From left to right are Snow White, Aurora, Belle, Pocahontas, Tiana, Merida, Rapunzel, Mulan, Cinderella, Jasmine and Ariel.
(Gregg Newton, Walt Disney Co.)

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The Royal Court poses after the welcoming ceremony for Princess Merida (“Brave,” center) on May 11, 2013. Also participating in the event were Rosie McClelland (front, left) and Sophia Grace Brownlee (front, right), best known for their appearances on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
(Todd Anderson, Walt Disney Co.)

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Princess Merida strolls up Main Street of Magic Kingdom after her welcoming ceremony on May 11, 2013.
(Gregg Newton, Walt Disney Co.)

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Disney is making Merida from ‘Brave’ the 11th official Disney Princess. This is an updated graphical look for the princess introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Disney is making Merida from ‘Brave’ the 11th official Disney Princess.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Disney is making Merida from ‘Brave’ the 11th official Disney Princess.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Disney is making Merida from ‘Brave’ the 11th official Disney Princess.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Rapunzel from ‘Tangled’ joined the Disney Princess franchise after 2011.
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The Disney Princess franchise stood at eight princesses from 1998-2009 before the introduction of Tiana from ‘The Princess and the Frog.’
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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Snow White was Disney’s original princess from the 1937 film ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.’
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Snow White was Disney’s original princess from the 1937 film ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.’
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Cinderella was one of the original Disney princesses. ‘Cinderella’ was released in 1950.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Cinderella was one of the original Disney princesses. ‘Cinderella’ was released in 1950.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Aurora from ‘Sleeping Beauty’ was one of the original Disney princesses. The film was released in 1959.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Aurora from ‘Sleeping Beauty’ was one of the original Disney princesses. The film was released in 1959.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Ariel from ‘The Little Mermaid’ was the fourth official Disney Princess and first since 1959’s Sleeping Beauty. ‘The Little Mermaid’ came out in 1989.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Ariel from ‘The Little Mermaid’ was the fourth official Disney Princess and first since 1959’s Sleeping Beauty. ‘The Little Mermaid’ came out in 1989.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Belle from ‘Beauty and the Beast’ joined the Disney Princesses franchise after the film’s 1991 release.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Belle from ‘Beauty and the Beast’ joined the Disney Princesses franchise after the film’s 1991 release.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Jasmine from ‘Aladdin’ joined the Disney Princesses franchise after the 1992 film.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Jasmine from ‘Aladdin’ joined the Disney Princesses franchise after the 1992 film.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Pocahontas joined the Disney Princesses franchise after the 1995 film.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Pocahontas joined the Disney Princesses franchise after the 1995 film.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Mulan joined the Disney Princesses franchise after the 1998 film.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Mulan joined the Disney Princesses franchise after the 1998 film.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Tiana from ‘The Frog and the Princess’ joined the Disney Princesses franchise after the 2009 film.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Tiana from ‘The Frog and the Princess’ joined the Disney Princesses franchise after the 2009 film.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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A new graphic look at the Disney Princess franchise was introduced in 2013.
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Rapunzel joined the Disney Princesses franchise after the 2011 film ‘Tangled.’
(Walt Disney Co.)

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Rapunzel joined the Disney Princesses franchise after the 2011 film ‘Tangled.’
(Walt Disney Co.)

Merida, the feisty, outdoorsy heroine of Pixar’s 2012 animated film “Brave," was many a parent’s dream come true. In an era in which girls are often hypersexualized in entertainment and the media, Merida stood apart. She hates all the finery that comes with being a lady in the higher court. Her father may be king, but she is far more interested in being a good shot and riding her horse than in following the path her mother has set for her, which requires marriage to keep the kingdom operating harmoniously.

This weekend, Disney’s consumer products division inducted Merida into its “princess collection.” (Pixar is a division of Disney, and the company merchandises all of their characters.) That means her new likeness should be featured on countless backpacks, figurines, nightgowns and more, though a quick search of the Disney site shows that the original Merida still reigns.

But it seems the Scottish archer has received a makeover as part of this induction, and not everyone is thrilled with the changes. Among the modifications: Merida’s long mane of red curls has been defrizzed, her neckline has plunged, her waistline has narrowed and her wide-eyed, round face has been angled. She’s also got eyeliner.

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The transformation has inspired the launch of a petition on Change.org, urging Disney Chairman Bob Iger to return Merida to her original self. It has collected over 120,000 signatures so far.

“Brave” creator and Oscar winner Brenda Chapman voiced her opposition to the character’s transformation in an email sent to the Marin Independent Journal, where she said that the changes effectively contradict her original intent with the character, which was “to offer up a different kind of princess — a stronger princess that both mothers and daughters could relate to.’”

She added, ""When little girls say they like it because it’s more sparkly, that’s all fine and good but, subconsciously, they are soaking in the sexy ‘come hither’ look and the skinny aspect of the new version. It’s horrible! Merida was created to break that mold — to give young girls a better, stronger role model, a more attainable role model, something of substance, not just a pretty face that waits around for romance.”

Disney responded with this statement, “Merida exemplifies what it means to be a Disney Princess through being brave, passionate, and confident and she remains the same strong and determined Merida from the movie whose inner qualities have inspired moms and daughters around the world.”